Record $6.6 Million Donation For Lasell University

NEWTON, MA — Lasell University has received the largest gift given to the school in its 170-year history, a $6.6 million donation from the mother of an alumna, who died eight years after graduating from the school officials said Thursday.

"While Michal was a student, the faculty, staff, and Michal’s fellow students went to extraordinary lengths to help her enjoy a fulfilling academic, residential, and social experience," Barbara Longe, Michal Longe's mother said. "She spoke fondly of her time at Lasell and enjoyed some of the happiest times of her life as a student."

Michal graduated from in 1995 with an associates degree in marketing from the school. She died in 2003 from complications of Cystic Fibrosis in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in 2003. She was 29.

Michal’s mother made a gift of stock resulting in a $6.6 million donation to name the school in memory of her daughter.

As a result, the school, which called the donation "transformational" said it would rename its business school to the Michal Longe ’95 School of Business. The money will go toward the school of business, provide scholarship aid for students and support faculty, according to the school.

"Barbara’s gift will help accelerate the learning opportunities for current and future students across our campus," Vice President of University Advancement Chelsea Gwyther said in a statement.

And the gift comes not a moment too soon, as liberal arts colleges across the state have been struggling to respond to a post pandemic world, and as some small private colleges have been facing a declining enrollment as tuition costs prove too high for many. Colleges across the commonwealth are nipping and tucking as they figure out ways to adjust to the landscape.

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"Barbara’s generous gift comes at an important time for the University and reflects Lasell’s student-focused, individualized approach," Lasell President Michael Alexander said in a statement. "Lasell continues to occupy a valuable position in American higher education by offering students a high-quality education at the net cost of a large public university, but with the intimacy and individualized experience of a small, student-centric college.”

Alexander said the $6.6 million will be added to the school's endowment and help to sustain the financial foundation of the University for decades to come.

During her senior year, Michal received Lasell’s Book Award for excellence in marketing and was named Gardner House’s top math/accounting student.

“Michal loved Lasell and Lasell loved her back,” said Kathleen O’Connor, who recently retired as Lasell’s vice president of enrollment management. “She was a wonderful student who brought a smile to everyone’s face during her years on campus.”

After graduation, Michal worked as a marketing executive for D.A. Collins Construction, which was founded by her grandfather, Donald. She helped raise millions of dollars as a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and promoted organ donation to save lives. She died of complications from her disease on Oct. 28, 2003, in Saratoga Springs, New York.